Dolgarrog post office closes

Oct 22 2009

Dolgarrog post office

A CONWY Valley post office has closed its doors indefinitely, meaning customers now have to travel up to a mile further to their next nearest branch.

Residents’ concerns grew after the post office and general store on Conway Road in Dolgarrog had empty shelves.

"I always used to pop to the post office for a pint of milk for my elderly mother or a Lottery ticket, but recently the shelves have been bare," said one concerned resident.

"It wasn’t long after that the auditors were called in and shut the shop down.

"My mother was a regular customer there for her groceries and pension, but for the last two weeks she’s had to travel to the next branch in Tal-y-Bont, which is a mile away and doesn’t have a Lottery machine.

"It’s very inconvenient for everyone who relied on the branch."

A spokesperson for Post Office Ltd confirmed the branch had closed.

He said: "We can confirm that Dolgarrog post office branch has temporarily closed for contractual and operational reasons.

"Some 98% of our network of branches in Wales operate on a contractual basis between Post Office Ltd and sub-postmasters.

"Occasionally contractual issues arise between these parties that need to be resolved, and of course, depending on the nature of the issue, this may mean the branch has to temporarily close until this can be achieved.

"Should a branch close, we look to re- open it with an interim sub-postmaster, but unfortunately we’ve been unable to identify one and the branch remains closed.

"In the meantime alternative services can be found less than a mile away at Tal- y-Bont and Llanrwst.

"Both branches are on the number 19 half hourly bus route."

Tal-y-Bont sub-postmaster Alwen Parry said the closure has led to an influx in extra custom for her.

"We have seen more customers through the doors since the Dolgarrog branch closed," she confirmed.

"We have similar facilities apart from a Lottery machine, but we are hoping to start up a petition in order to get one soon."

In July 2008, 52 post offices across North Wales were earmarked for closure, and a further 14 were to be replaced by mobile outreach services.

Dolgarrog was one of the luckier branches which escaped the axe.

As the Weekly News went to press Dolgarrog’s current post office branch owner was unavailable for comment.